Scotch-yoke mechanism having lubricant applicator secured to the yoke



Dec. 22, 1964 5, ENDERS 3,162,267

SCOTCH-YOKE MECHANISM HAVING LUBRICANT APPLIGATOR SECURED TO THE YOKE Omginal Flled Sept 12 1960 LN-J FIG. 6

SH ER WOO D G. ENDERS INV EN TOR.

ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,162,267 SCGTCH-YOKE MECHANISM HAVING LUBRI- CANT APPLICATOR SECURED TO THE YOKE Sherwood G. Enders, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Black and Decker Manufacturing Qompany, Towson, Md, a corporation of Maryland Original application Sept. 12, 195i Ser. No. 55,320, now Patent No. 3,033,312, dated May 8, 1962. Divided and this application Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,659 1 Claim. (Cl. 184---5) The present invention relates to a Scotch-yoke mechanism having a lubricant applicator secured to the reciprocating yoke, and more particularly, to a lubricant applicator which is secured within the guide track of the Scotch-yoke at the end of the yoke.

The present invention is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 55,320, filed September 12, 1960, entitled Lubrication Means for Mechanism of the Scotchyoke Type, assigned to the same assignee as that of the present invention, and issued on May 8, 1962 as US. Patent No. 3,033,312.

It is an object of the present invention to have a lubricant applicator secured within the guide track at the vend of the yoke, whereby the eccentric means (which is guided within the track) may contact the lubricator at least once during the operating cycle of the mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pair of lubricant applicators secured within the guide track of the yoke, one each at a respective end of the yoke, whereby the eccentric means may contact the applicators, in sequence, during the operating cycle of the mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in conjunction with a Scotch-yoke mechanism having a closed yoke, a pair of lubricant applicators secured within the guide track of the yoke, one each at a respective end of the yoke, whereby the eccentric means may contact the applicators, in sequence, at the midpoints of reciprocation of the yoke.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings,

, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a Scotch-yoke mechanism having a closed yoke with a pair of lubricant applicators being secured within the yoke at the ends thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view corresponding to that of FIGURE 1, but showing the eccentric means contacting one of the lubricant applicators at the approximate midpoint of reciprocation of the yoke;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view corresponding to that of FIGURES 1 and 2, but showing how-an axial depression will be formed along each of the applicators after repeated contact with the eccentric means;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the Scotchyoke mechanism shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, showing how the reciprocating yoke is driven through a rotat ing gear having an eccentric pin mounted thereon;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the Scotch-yoke of FIGURES 1 through 3, showing the applicators in relation to the yoke; and

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the Scotchyoke of FIGURES 1 through 3, showing in broken lines the extent of reciprocation of the transverse yoke, and further showing the contact of the eccentric means with the pair of lubricant applicators at the approximate midpoint of reciprocation of the yoke.

With reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a motion-translating mechanism 10 of the Scotch-yoke type, which includes a reciprocating longitudinal shaft 11, a transverse yoke 12 secured to the shaft 11, eccentric means (such as a pin or roller)--denoted generally by the numeral 13-and guided within the track 14 of the yoke 12; and as shown more particularly in FIGURE 4, the eccentric means 13 may be carried by a gear 15 mounted on a stub shaft 16 and engaging a pinion 17, the gear 15 being provided with at least one opening 18 opposite the eccentric means 13 for purposes of securing a counterbalancing weight (not shown) to the gear 15. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, as the gear 15 rotates, the eccentric means 13 will be guided within the guide track 14 of the transverse yoke 12; and in such a manner, the shaft 11 together with the yoke 12 secured thereto, will be reciprocated.

As shown in the drawings, the yoke 12 may be conveniently formed with a pair of closed ends 19 and 20, and a pair of lubricant applicators 21 and 22 are secured within the yoke 12 at the closed ends 19 and 20, respectively. Preferably, but not necessarily, the lubricant applicators 21 and 22 may comprise a cylindrical plug of felt or suitable material, acting as a wick, which is impregnated with a suitable lubricant and adhesively secured within the yoke 12. However, it will be understood that other means of forming the applicators 21, 22, as well as other means of forming the yoke 12, are equally within the teachings and scope of the present invention.

As shown more particularly in FIGURE 6, the eccentric mcans 13 will contact the lubricant applicators 21 and 22, in sequence, and approximately during the midpoint of reciprocation of the transverse yoke 12.

As shown more particularly in FIGURE 3, after a repeated number of contacts between the eccentric means 13 and the applicators 21 and 22, each of the applicators (being somewhat pliable or compressible) may acquire an axial depression denoted as at 23 and 24, respectively.

Inasmuch as the closed yoke 12 is substantially channelshaped and has a pair of closed ends 19 and 20 (as shown in the drawings), it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the lubricant (which is picked up by the eccentric 13 as it periodically engages the wicks 21 and 22) will be substantially confined to the yoke 12; and this is desirable in appreciably diminishing the number of times that the lubricant in the wicks 21 and 22 need be replenished over the extended usage of the mechanism. 7

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention; and accordingly, within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described.

I claim:

In a Scotch-yoke type of motion-translation mechanism, the combination of:

(a) a closed yoke, substantially channel-shaped, and having a pair of parallel side walls forming a guide track therebetween;

(b) said yoke having a back wall and further having Patented Dec. 22, 1964 .a pair ,of closedends all joining integrally with said side Walls; j a i (0) means to reciprocate said'yoke in a direction transverse to said sidewalls, said means comprising a rotating eccentric member entering said yoke in a direction which is opposite from "said back wall of said yoke;

' (d) said eccentric member'being guided for reciproca- "tion in said track; and I V (e) a pair of, lubricant-impregnated felt applicators mounted between the parallel side Walls of said yoke,

one at each end of the yoke, and carried by said' 1 "yoke .duringrits reciprocation; whereby said eccentric member engages said applicators, in sequence; once per rotation and at the mid-point'in the reciprocation of the yoke, and acquires lubricantrtherefrom,

5 and whereby the lubricant is confined substantially within said closed yoke.

' Referenc'esiCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,192 Gase Aug. 8,-1922 2,024,329 Beesley Dec. 17, 1935 2,970,484

Springer Feb. 7, 1961 

